Improvement in linchpins



UNITEn STATES ATENT DFFICE.

SELF AND EDWIN STEER, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LINCHPINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 53,220, dated March 13,1866.

pin as fully described hereafter, so that, al

though it may be readily raised to allow the pin to be withdrawn,itcannot be thrown from its position by thejolting of the vehicle, the pinbeing thus securely held in its place.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, I will nowproceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying draw ings, which form a part of thisspecification, Figure l is a view, partly in section, showin g my.improved linchpin applied to an axle; Fig. 2, an end view of Fig. 1; andFig. 3, a plan view of Fig. 1, partly in section.

A represents one end of an axle, and B the hub of a wheel turning on thesaid axle.

Through an opening in the axle A passes a linchpin, O, and at the upperend of the latter is a lug or projection, to, in which is a slot, 00.Through the slot .20 pass the ends of a metal spring, D, which is bentto a spiral form and encircles the end of the axle, the ends of the saidspringbeing maintained by the elasticityof the same in the opposite endsof the slot 00, as shown in the drawings. At each end of the spring D isa lip, c, which bears against the side of the projection 06 and preventsthe spring from turning in the slot.

Rings have been heretofore hung to linchpins so as to encircle the endsof the axles, and thus prevent the pins from being thrown from theirplaces. Such devices are defective, however, as the ringis sometimesthrown outward by the jolting of the vehicle and the pin escapes fromits position.

In the above-described device the ends of the spring D are maintained sofirmly in the ends of the slot 0: that it is impossible for the springto be moved from its position by the jolting of the vehicle. When,however, it is desired to remove the pin, the spring, by the applicationof a slight pressure outward; is moved to the position shown in redlines, Fig. 1, when the pin may be withdrawn.

it will be seen that the device is not only more eflicient than that inwhich a solid ring is used, but that it is also cheaper, inasmuch as itis not necessary to weld the ends of the ring together after it has beenattached to the pin.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent Thelinchpin O, with its slot 00, in combination with the spring D, thelatter being constructed and attached to the linchpin, substantially asand for the purpose described.

In testimony whereofl have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS B. GUSMAN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES E. FOSTER, JOHN WHITE.

